Trump provokes Merkel to reveal her true goal of dominating Europe With Britain leaving, France compliant, Germany is ready to extend its swayDonald Trump must have done something right in his first foreign trip as president because he provoked German Chancellor Angela Merkel to let slip how she really feels about running Europe, writes Darrell Delamaide.

Macron’s choices will show if he’s smart or just lucky French president-elect needs legislative allies to governFrench President-elect Emmanuel Macron’s choice for prime minister will show whether he’s smart enough to lead France or just lucky enough to win, writes Darrell Delamaide.

If the Macron rally is going to continue, he’s going to have to deliver Four benchmarks to judge a President Macron onIf the Macron Trade is to be more than just a relief rally, then the likely French president needs to deliver some substance and not just rhetoric, writes Matthew Lynn.

Worlds will collide when the cautious Merkel meets the impetuous Trump Immigration, trade, Russia: plenty of explosive tinder awaits at White House meetingAngela Merkel will meet Donald Trump for the first time Friday, with high expectations of an explosive meeting between two leaders who could not be more different, writes David Marsh.

Former French President Sarkozy joins Accor boardPARIS--Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has joined the board of hotels group Accor SA (AC.FR). Mr. Sarkozy will work toward extending Accor's international reach and promoting French tourism, Accor said in a statement. He will take over from the representative of Colony Capital after the fund decided to sell its shareholding in Accor earlier this month.

Accor 2016 profit up 8.6% as French sales reboundPARIS--French hotel group Accor SA (AC.FR) on Wednesday reported net profit for 2016 jumped 8.6%, fueled by a strong fourth quarter as sales in France rebounded after the November 2015 terror attacks.

‘Fake news’ throws Macron’s French campaign off track Are democratic institutions so weak that all it takes is a shove from Putin?Emmanuel Macron, who had been favored to win the presidency of France, has seen his campaign falter amid accusations that Russia trying to get far-right leader Marine Le Pen elected, writes Darrell Delamaide.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to stand trial over campaign financing Move relates to failed bid for reelection in 2012, a judicial official saidFormer French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly breaking campaign financing rules in his failed bid for reelection in 2012, a judicial official said Tuesday.

The IMF missed its chance to dump the ineffective Lagarde Fatally damaged Lagarde has no credibility to insist on financial responsibilityThe world needs strong financial leadership right now, but instead the IMF decided to keep Christine Lagarde in office despite her conviction on financial negligence charges, writes Matthew Lynn.

In France as in the U.S., the populist insurgency is gaining ground Conservatives in France pick a far-right candidate to face extreme-right Le PenSurprising results from the French presidential primary shows that a populist insurgency is gathering strength all over the Western world, writes Darrell Delamaide.

Treasury yields near highest levels in 18 monthsTreasury yields crept higher on Friday, trading near their highest levels since July 2015, as investors focused on political uncertainty in Europe during an abbreviated session in the U.S.

Populist upheaval won’t topple Merkel or Abe Incumbents in Germany, Japan strengthened by Brexit vote, TrumpThe upheavals in the U.S. and U.K. have almost certainly boosted the clout of incumbents in Germany and Japan, writes David Marsh.

Nicolas Sarkozy suffers upset loss in French primary Ex-president ousted; François Fillon takes first conservative primaryFormer French President Nicolas Sarkozy was knocked out of the first round of a key primary, marking a significant upset in the race to become France’s next president.

French election shaping up to be another disaster for establishment parties Le Pen bolstered by Trump and Brexit, not to mention her weak and corrupt opponentsJust as Donald Trump broke through the “blue wall” of Democratic-leaning states, Marine Le Pen hopes that populist rage will enable her to break through the “republican front” blocking her way to the French presidency, writes Darrell Delamaide.

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